Slamming torture report ... former US Vice President Dick Cheney. Picture: AP Photo/Olivia Harris Source: AP

Speaking on the Fox News program Special Report with Bret Baier, the former Vice President said he had not read the report, but he was unapologetic about the Bush administration’s response to terrorists in the wake of the 9/11 attacks on America.

EARLIER: The 13 torture techniques used by the CIA

“I have no sympathy for them,” Mr Cheney said of the prisoners who were subjected to “enhanced interrogation techniques”.

“How nice do you have to be to the murderers of 3000 Americans?” he said.

“What are we supposed to do? Kiss him on both cheeks and say please tell us what you know? Of course not.”

Mr Cheney said his job as vice president “was to push to get programs like this in place” and he would “do it all again in a minute”.

He said he had never heard of “rectal feeding”, but confirmed that waterboarding was used by CIA interrogators.

Asked how much President Bush knew about the techniques used to interrogate the prisoners, Mr Cheney replied: “I think he knew everything he needed to know”.

No apologies ... former US Vice President Dick Cheney with Bret Baier. Source: Twitter

The Senate Intelligence Committee report stated the Central Intelligence Agency misled the White House and Congress with inaccurate claims about the interrogation program’s usefulness in thwarting attacks.

The report has also drawn international calls for criminal prosecution.

The United Nations said the program violated international law and basic human rights. And British-based advocacy group CAGE demanded criminal proceedings.

“This provides clear evidence for prosecution,” said Amanda Thomas-Johnson, a spokeswoman for CAGE.

“This shows that the US and its allies are operating outside the bounds of the law.”

Among the findings: a CIA operative used “Russian roulette” to intimidate a prisoner and another — untrained in interrogation techniques — threatened to use a power drill.

Detainees were humiliated through the painful use of medically unnecessary “rectal feeding” and “rectal rehydration”.

One died of hypothermia while shackled, while some suffered broken limbs.

‘Contrary to American values’ ... US President Barack Obama. Picture: AP Photo/Susan Walsh Source: AP

In response to the report, US President Barack Obama said torture had been counterproductive and contrary to American values.

“The report documents a troubling program involving enhanced interrogation techniques on terrorism suspects in secret facilities outside the United States,” Obama said.

“It reinforces my long-held view that these harsh methods were not only inconsistent with our values as nation, they did not serve our broader counterterrorism efforts or our national security interests.”

CIA director John Brennan defended his agency’s adoption of tough tactics under president George W. Bush in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 Al-Qaeda attacks on US cities.

He insisted that, while mistakes were made, brutal techniques “did produce intelligence that helped thwart attack plans, capture terrorists and save lives.”

Central Intelligence Agency Director John Brennan ... harsh interrogations ‘did produce intelligence that helped thwart attack plans, capture terrorists and save lives." Picture: AFP Photo / Mandel Ngan Source: AFP

Committee chair Senator Dianne Feinstein told the Senate at least 119 detainees were held under the program, with many subjected to “coercive interrogation techniques, in some cases amounting to torture”.

The detainees were rounded up by US operatives beginning in 2001 after Al-Qaeda destroyed New York’s World Trade Center and damaged the Pentagon, and through to 2009.

They were interrogated either at CIA-run secret prisons in allied nations or at the US detention centre at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba.

Feinstein said some around the world “will try to use it to justify evil actions or incite more violence.”

“We can’t prevent that. But history will judge us by our commitment to a just society governed by law, and the willingness to face an ugly truth and say ‘never again.’”

Mr Cheney has staunchly defended the program before, telling The New York Times the interrogations were “absolutely, totally justified.”

Rights advocates criticised the US Justice Department announcement that it will not prosecute any US officials implicated.